Monroe let out a small sigh as she sat on the window seat in her room. She looked out at the scenery as Hawk's mom moved slowly along.

"Baste Prison…that's where Ban is." Monroe said. "And that's where we're going."

Ban's grinning face popped into her mind as she continued to stare at out the window. Ban was someone special to her. Even more so than the other Sins who she saw as her family. Ever since she was a little girl and first met Ban, she felt close to him, and now she was closer to seeing him again. As she thought about the Fox Sin of Greed, a distant memory came to her.

-FLASHBACK-

Monroe laughed as she ran through her family's garden as the sun shined overhead.

"You'll never catch me, Ban!" Monroe called over her shoulder as she glanced back at the blue-haired man.

Ban laughed in return as he chased after Monroe who had pulled him into her little game of chase. He wasn't going to play, but when Monroe mentioned the winner getting a prize and being known as the best at the game of chase, he immediately agreed to play.

"We'll see about that, Mo." Ban said using the nickname only he uses for her.

Ban soon let out a burst of speed, and Monroe squealed when he scooped her up into his arms. She was hoisted right off the ground with him holding her against his chest. Her tiny form fit in one of his arms as he used his free hand to tap her nose.

"I win." Ban said grinning. "Now where's my prize, hmm?"

Monroe pouted at losing in the first place, but knew she had to give the winner the prize that was promised. So, she gave him the prize her mother always gives her and Feoras whenever they win the little games Cordelia comes up with to keep the children entertained. Monroe gave Ban a small kiss on his cheek, which had his eyes widening since he wasn't expecting that.

"There." Monroe said as she pulled back with the pout still on her face.

"That was the prize?" Ban asked curiously.

"That's the prize Momma always gives me when I win her games." Monroe said then frowned in worry thinking Ban didn't like the prize. "Do you want something else?"

Ban was silent for a moment before he let out a chuckle and tightened his hold on Monroe.

"Nah, I liked my prize." Ban said. "I think I'll keep it."

Monroe smiled before hugging Ban around the neck as he carried her towards the mansion where the others were sitting around the patio.

-END OF FLASHBACK-

Monroe smiled at that memory as she placed her hand over her heart. Back then was when she started crushing on Ban. Even now just the thought of him could make her face flush and heart flutter. Though despite her feelings, she was sure Ban would never return them. This thought had her smile dropping. It was a sad fact, but it was one she'd have to come to terms with soon enough. Monroe shook her head to clear her head when she suddenly heard Elizabeth scream in worry.

"Sir Meliodas!"

Monroe quickly ran out of the guestroom while heading up to Meliodas's room. She ran through the door, which was open to see Elizabeth fretting over Meliodas who was laying on the ground unconscious. Monroe dropped down to his side while reaching out to check for a pulse. She felt one, but it was very weak. Monroe turned towards Elizabeth.

"Stay here." Monroe instructed. "I'll have Hawk's Mom hurry to the next town."

Elizabeth nodded her head as she held Meliodas's hand tightly in her own. Monroe quickly left the room to head down the stairs. As soon as her feet hit the floor of the tavern, she didn't even pause as she went straight for the door.

"Hawk!" Monroe called out as she stepped outside.

The pig looked up at the sound of his name, and Diane turned as well when hearing Monroe's urgent tone.

"Have your mother hurry to the next town." Monroe ordered. "Meliodas's wounds were much worse than we thought. If he doesn't get a doctor soon, there's no telling what might happen."

Hawk and Diane gasped in unison before Hawk told his mom to hurry as fast as she could. She took off quickly with Diane having to jog to keep up with her.

"What's wrong with the Captain?" Diane asked. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Not as of right now." Monroe said. "I'll go see if I can at least stop the bleeding or try to make him comfortable until we arrive."

Diane nodded her head then watched as Monroe disappeared back inside. Both of them hoped Meliodas would be alright.

"I won't lose you," Monroe said through gritted teeth as she headed up to stairs. "I won't lose any of you—not after waiting so long to reunited, Melly."

"Diane, wait up!" Monroe called out to the giant.

After arriving to a small town not far from Baste Prison, Diane had immediately taken Meliodas from Monroe and Elizabeth to hurry through the town looking for a doctor. The search wasn't going so well since people ran from Diane the second that they saw her. Even when she pleaded with them to hold on, the people still ran from her. Finally, Monroe and the others caught up to the giant girl.

"See? What did I tell ya?!" Hawk demanded.

"Please, Hawk, Lady Monroe, and I are more than capable of finding a doctor!" Elizabeth asked. "Why don't you just—?!"

"Look, I'm gonna be the one helping the Captain!" Diane interrupted.

Monroe frowned because they really didn't have the time for this considering Meliodas was getting weaker by the second.

"How can you help him if they keep running for the hills the moment, they see ya?!" Hawk demanded.

"I know you don't want to hear this, Diane, but Hawk has a point." Monroe said. "These people obviously don't trust giants, which means you won't be able to get close enough to one to ask them for a doctor for Meliodas. Please, let us look."

Diane frowned not wanting to give up the search when he was this injured, but she knew Monroe was right.

"Okay, fine." Diane said. "Then you two can go look for a doctor."

She gestured to Hawk and Elizabeth, and the two were slightly surprised that Diane gave them the okay to go. However, they soon snapped out of it.

"Alright." Elizabeth said then started running off with Hawk.

"Stay put, got it?" Hawk called over his shoulder.

Diane didn't reply as she just sat down on the ground while holding Meliodas in her hands. Monroe remained with her guessing Elizabeth would be safe without her for now. She did have Hawk with her after all and they were in a relatively quiet, peaceful area even if near a prison for criminals. As they stood there, Monroe looked in the direction that the prison was in. Ban was so close now. But with Meliodas in his condition, he wouldn't be ready to head there for quite some time.

"I bet you're worried about him." Diane spoke up. "Ban, I mean. You two were always really close."

Monroe just continued looking towards the prison as she bit her lip harshly. A part of her wanted to the prison now, and she knew she could get out alive. Though with the Weird Fangs running around it wouldn't be easy rescuing Ban solo. But not impossible.

"As soon as the Captain is in the good hands of a doctor, we can go on to the prison." Diane said. "I don't want him putting himself at risk because we both know that as soon as he wakes that he will try to go straight to the prison…even if he isn't completely healed."

"Yes, he most likely will." Monroe agreed. "Meliodas can be quite stubborn. Though I worry about leaving them behind without someone to watch them. I swore to King Batra that I'd watch over his daughter."

Diane frowned at the mention of Elizabeth but didn't comment. She knew Monroe's loyalty to the royal family was important to her and knew one of her duties was to ensure the safety of Elizabeth and her family.

"That being said, I also can't send you in alone." Monroe continued. "So, we just have to try and be smart about things."

Monroe stood behind Elizabeth, who sat at Meliodas's bedside, as Dr. Dana looked after the boy. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she watched the doctor give Meliodas some kind of medicine.

"This medicinal blend is my own special concoction." Dr. Dana told them. "I can guarantee it will ease his suffering."

"Thank you for seeing him, Dr. Dana." Elizabeth said.

She had been so happy when she and Hawk finally managed to find this doctor. He hadn't hesitated to agree to look after Meliodas and had gotten quickly to work to tending to the boy's injuries.

"Based on his injuries, it's a miracle that he's still alive." Dr. Dana said. "In addition to the rather deep sword wound, he has burns as if he were struck by lightning."

Well, the doctor wasn't wrong. Meliodas had taken quite a few of Gilthunder's lightning strikes head on.

"How did a child get these?" Dr. Dana questioned.

"It's a rather long story." Monroe said with a sigh. "But the short version is this idiot is just reckless."

Despite her harsh critic of the boy's recklessness, Monroe wore a worried expression on her face.

"Thanks again for seeing him, Doctor," Monroe said. "If you'd like, we can discuss payment before I take my leave."

Elizabeth looked back in confusion at Monroe's words, but never got the chance to question what she meant before Monroe left with the doctor.

"You really needn't worry about payment." Dr. Dana told the girl. "I treat children for free for anything serious."

"He's not a child though," Monroe said with a chuckle. "That guy in there is way older than he looks. He just doesn't age like the rest of us."

He was a demon after all. Monroe knew that much. Mors had filled her in on several things that happened 3,000 years ago. As did her fellow Apostles who had fought in the first Holy War. She knew a big cause to the war's beginning was when a demon fell in love with a goddess. That demon being Meliodas. Monroe had been shocked to hear Meliodas was actually a demon and a high-ranking one. But really, it didn't change the fact that he was someone precious to her—family.

And since he was family, Monroe asked that Mors refrain from telling her too much of Meliodas's history. If the blonde wished for her or the others to know his past, he could tell them himself. Until the day comes that he's okay with sharing, Monroe wouldn't snoop.

"Well, if you insist," Dr. Dana began only to be interrupted when Elizabeth and Hawk ran by.

Monroe frowned wondering where the two of them were running of to in a hurry. She sighed.

"What could those two be up to?" She wondered out loud.

"Please, check on them if you need to," Dr. Dana said kindly. "We can discuss things such as payment once your friend is well."

Monroe nodded and thanked the doctor again before going to follow after Elizabeth and Hawk. She stepped outside to the street to see Elizabeth had been following Diane. It looked as if the giantess was trying to go to Baste Prison on her own.

"I don't want you getting under foot," Diane was telling Elizabeth as Monroe walked closer. "What could you possibly do to help me? The only things you're good for, Princess, are changing the washcloths you put on the Captain's head and being his little nursemaid."

Monroe sighed seeing that Diane still wasn't warming up to Elizabeth in the slightest. Hawk went to snap at Diane, but stopped when Monroe, who reached them, placed a hand on his back.

"Easy there, Di." Monroe said. "I know we're all a little stressed out right now but taking out your frustrations on Princess Elizabeth isn't helping anyone."

Diane frowned as she looked down. She knew Monroe was right, but the princess just frustrated her to no end. Though she knew part of it was because she was jealous. Jealous Elizabeth was the right size to take care of the man she had feelings for.

"I want to do something," Elizabeth said as her shoulders shook. "Anything to be of some help to Sir Meliodas. He's hurt and I know its all my fault. I just cause him trouble, and not just him but Lady Monroe as well. But for my sake, they try too—!"

"Now don't kid yourself!" Diane interrupted as she stomped her foot. "It's not like the captain risked everything for you, and the same goes for Roe! He's like that always was. Trust me, I should know. And Monroe has always been a kind girl too."

Diane remembers so clearly the time Monroe, who was a child at the time, stood up for her. Bled for her.

—FLASHBACK—

"I'm home," Monroe called as she came into the garden where many of the others were having lunch.

Diane turned to smile and welcome the girl back, but her words got stuck in her throat when seeing Monroe's condition. The girl was dirty. Her clothes ripped and she had some bruising on her face and some cuts along her body, which were bleeding slightly.

"Monroe!" Cordelia gasped while hurrying to her daughter. "What happened to you?"

Asthore was quickly at the girl's side as well as her mother was carefully cupping the girl's face in her hands. Diane leaned over the scene worriedly as Cordelia inspected the girl's injuries. It was a good thing most of the boys were out on missions, or Diane was sure Ban and Meliodas would be out for someone's blood by now. Diane was then shocked as the little girl just smiled and scratched the back of her head.

"I…I got into a fight with some teenagers." Monroe confessed.

She let out a small laugh at her own confession while looking a bit uncomfortable as her mother glared at her. Asthore just sighed.

"Why were you fighting them, Monroe?" He asked with his voice already showing disappointment.

"They made fun of Diane." Monroe said with a frown. "They kept calling her names and making rude comments about her size and the fact she's a giant. I told them to shut up and apologize and I'd let them walk away unharmed. But they refused and kept making their insults, so…I punched them."

She held up her tiny fist as she spoke. Her parents just staring at her silently in return as Diane's eyes widened. Monroe…fought for her sake…just because a few kids were running their mouths about Diane.

"Well," Asthore began. "I can't really scold you for defending a friend."

Diane looked at the man in disbelief as even Cordelia didn't seem angry anymore. She was even more surprised when Asthore smiled at patted Monroe's head.

"Good job, little knight." Asthore praised his daughter. "You make your father proud."

Monroe smiled before turning towards Diane who looked as if she might start crying.

"Don't cry, Di!" Monroe said as she held out her arms to the giantess. "I'll beat up anyone who says anything bad about you, okay? So, you don't have to be sad!"

Diane's lips turned up as she gently picked up the girl to bring her up to her face, so she could affectionately hold Monroe against her cheek.

"I'm not sad," Diane assured her. "I'm just really…happy."

—END OF FLASHBACK—

"Yes, Lady Monroe is really a kind person," Elizabeth agreed. "But what do you mean about Sir Meliodas?"

Diane sighed before telling Elizabeth the story of how she and Meliodas had first met. And how he had defended her against some foolish knights who saw her as a monster and not even as a girl. How Meliodas made her feel normal despite her size, and how she felt for just that moment as if she were the same size as the boy standing next to her.

"I will never be as small as you, Princess." Diane said. "Or as dainty. I can't fit into that building, so I can't even tend to the captain's injuries. But there is one thing I can do for him…fight with everything I have that's about it."

Elizabeth looked down while placing her clenched fist over her heart, which ached at her feeling of helplessness.

"As for me, I wish that I had the power to fight the Holy Knights," Elizabeth said. "The power to hold my own, so that I can save my loved ones."

"…I wish I could be small like you," Diane said softly.

Monroe let out a soft breath at the two while wishing she knew what to say to make both of them feel better. But it would see words of comfort would have to wait as Monroe spotted something raising from Baste Prison in the distance.

"What's that?" Elizabeth asked.

"Trouble," Monroe replied as the villagers started noticing as well.

The dark mass started getting closer, which had Monroe stepping forward in front of Diane and the others.

"It's coming from Baste Prison." Diane said.

"Do you think…maybe a storm's coming?" Elizabeth wondered.

"Don't tell me it's that guy again." Hawk fretted.

He really didn't feel like being cooked alive by lightning again. Or being kicked around.

"No, I believe the Weird Fangs have finally made their move." Monroe said. "If I recall, Friesia has a nasty ability that allows her to control insects. Her specialty being poison insects."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the insects started shooting poisonous acid from their mouths onto the town. The townspeople started screaming and looking for cover. The acid strong enough to melt through stone.

"If this is an attack from Baste Prison," Elizabeth began.

"That means a Holy Knight is behind this like Monroe said," Hawk said as he and Elizabeth were running to shelter. "Diane, Monroe, we'll leave this to you!"

Monroe, who knew what was about to happen, didn't even have to count to three before Diane let out a scream and crouched down.

"Ahhh, bugs are the one thing I can't stand!" She cried.

"WHAT?!" Hawk and Elizabeth shouted in unison.

Monroe sighed before stepping forward as the acid evaporated into a gas before it could touch Monroe's body.

"It's fine," Monroe said. "I can handle this. Liquid Rush."

She held out her hand with the ground next to her suddenly turning fluid like water. It raced forward towards the bugs, which it swallowed up in its liquid depths. Soon all the bugs were caught in the liquid ground bubble that Monroe had floating about them.

"Followed by," Monroe began then snapped her fingers. "Evaporation."

The liquid seemed to start bubbling as if it was being warmed before it popped loudly and turned into a gas. Due to their being more bugs than she thought, some bits and pieces that hadn't been caught in her magic fell to the ground causing Diane to shake in disgust.

"Sorry but that was about as cleanly as I could handle it." Monroe apologized. "Anyway, it looks as if the Weird Fangs are ready to play? What do you say, Diane? It'd be rude to pass up their invitation, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah," Diane agreed as she stood up to her full height, but not before picking up Monroe. "Now, hold on tight."

Diane then jumped high into the air with Monroe on her shoulder. She landed outside of town but paused long enough to give a few parting words to Elizabeth.

"Now, look after the captain!" Diane said. "Got it, Princess?!"

"And try to stay out of trouble!" Monroe added. "I'll be back soon!"

She then looked forward as Diane charged towards the prison. Soon they'd be able to begin the real fight…and then they'd finally have Ban back.

Ban let sigh while feeling bored out of his mind. He can't even recall how long it's been since he let them capture him and throw him into this prison. Though it wasn't as if he had anything better to do. He didn't know where his friends were…and he couldn't see her anymore. It's been ten years since he saw her smiling face. He can remember it so clearly.

—FLASHBACK—

"Why do you all have to go?" Monroe asked with a pout as she looked up at the Sins. "Melly and Ban, you two just got back."

Ban chuckled at her whine before crouching down to be closer to her height as he ruffled her hair.

"We'll be back before you know it, Mo." Ban assured her. "Whatever they want with us at the old castle shouldn't take long. Then when we get back, we can spend as much time together as you want, okay?"

"Promise?" Monroe asked him.

Ban nodded his head, which brought a smile from the silver-haired girl who gave him a tight hug around his neck. His own smile widened before he had to stand up to leave with the others. Monroe followed them to the doorway where Diane was already waiting outside.

"Take care while you're gone," Monroe told them as she waved. "I'll miss you."

—END OF FLASHBACK—

It was only supposed to be a few hours of separation, but it turned into a decade. Ban missed her. His little Mo. Not to mention, the rest of the family who always treated him like he belonged and that he was actually worthy of love. He shook his head because he didn't want to be thinking about that. As he tried to think of something to distract himself, something his guards were saying caught his attention.

"Hey, wanna bet on who will win?" A guard asked getting a hum as a reply from another guard. "The Weird Fangs or Seven Deadly Sins? They're fighting in town right now."

Ban shifted at the mention of the Sins as he began to sit up straighter and as he listened more closely.

"That's not much of a bet." The second guard said. "From what I heard the Sins are just down to their captain and one other member."

Ban grinned when hearing Meliodas was alive. The news had him pulling his chains off of his body to free himself from his position against the wall. If the captain was alive and heading this way, it meant things were finally going to get interesting. And it meant there was no reason for him to stick around here.

"They aren't alone from what I hear," The first guard said. "I heard that that traitor is with them, and she was a diamond ranked Holy Knight before leaving the kingdom. You've heard about her, right? She has earned quite the name for herself. Monroe the Guardian."

Ban froze when hearing her name. Monroe was nearby as well. Monroe was with the captain and heading this way.

"Even with the help of the traitorous Holy Knight Monroe, they don't stand a chance. I don't care what the rumors say, she's just one person." The second guard said.

"Well, that's awesome news," Ban said as he stepped forward. "Sounds like it oughta be fun."

He then kicked the door down with ease, which caused those charged to look after him gasp and jump back.

"Uh, feels so good to walk around after all this time." Ban said as he put his hand behind his head.

"The Seven Deadly Sins—Ban the Fox Sin!" The first guard exclaimed.

Both guards prepared to fight as they widened their stances and gripped the handles of their swords. Ban almost wanted to scoff.

"Damn you!" The second guard cursed. "How'd you get out of there?! And why now?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Ban asked as he started removing the remaining spikes in his limbs. "I kicked the door down. As for why, it's because you were talking about some totally interesting stuff. You said he was alive…our captain. But not just him…her as well…my little Mo."

He said this while narrowing his eyes at the guards who stiffened in fear. If they got in his way, he wouldn't show them any mercy. No one was going to stop him from returning to her. He was a greedy guy after all, so he wasn't about to give up the one thing he had always wanted. The one truly good thing in his life.